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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI1994

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 35, No. 1, January-June 1994]

Nuclear Safety is a review journal that covers significant developments in the field of nuclear safety. Its scope includes the analysis and control of hazards associated with nuclear energy, operations involving fissionable materials, and the products of nuclear fission and their effects on the environment. Primary emphasis is on safety in reactor design, construction, and operation; however, the safety aspects of the entire fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, spent-fuel processing, nuclear waste disposal, handling of radioisotopes, and environmental effects of these operations, are also treated. Table of Contents for this issue follows. GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT: 1 Chernobyl Accident Management Actions, A. R Sich 25 The IAEA-ASSET Approach to Avoiding Accidents is to Recognize the Precursors to Prevent Incidents, F. Reisch; ACCIDENT ANALYSIS: 36 A Review of the Available Information on the Triggering Stage of a Steam Explosion, D. F. Fletcher; 58 Analysis and Modeling of Flow-Blockage-Induced Steam Explosion Events in the High-Flux Isotope Reactor, R. P. Taleyarkhan, V. Georgevich, C. W. Nestor, U. Gat, B. L. Lepard, D. H. Cook, J. Freels, S. J. Chang, C. Luttrell, R. C. Gwaltney, and J. Kirkpatrick; 74 An Analysis of Disassembling the Radial Reflector of a Thermionic Space Nuclear Reactor Power System, M. S. El-Genk and D. V. Paramonov; CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION: 86 Standards for High-Integrity Software, D. R. Wallace, D. R. Kuhn, L M. Ippolito, and L. Beltracchi; DESIGN FEATURES: 98 Adoption of New Design Features for the Next Generation Nuclear Power Reactors, L. S. Tong; 114 Review of Nuclear Piping Seismic Design Requirements, G. C. Slagis and S. E. Moore; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: 128 PC-Based Probabilistic Safety Assessment Study for a Geological Waste Repository Placed in a Bedded Salt Formation, S. A. Khan; OPERATING EXPERIENCES: 142 Managing Aging in Nuclear Power Plants: Insights from NRC’s Maintenance Team Inspection Reports, A. Fresco and M. Subudhi; 150 Reactor Shutdown Experience, Compiled by J. W. Cletcher; 153 Selected Safety-Related Events, Compiled by G. A. Murphy; RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: 158 Reports, Standards, and Safety Guides, D. S. Queener; 168 Proposed Rule Changes as of Dec. 31, 1993; ANNOUNCEMENTS: 177 Symposium on Radioactive and Mixed Waste—Risk as a Basis for Waste Classification; 177 1995 Incineration Conference 178 Ninth Power Plant Dynamics Control and Testing Symposium; 174 The Authors

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI1994

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 35, No. 1, January-June 1994]

Nuclear Safety is a review journal that covers significant developments in the field of nuclear safety. Its scope includes the analysis and control of hazards associated with nuclear energy, operations involving fissionable materials, and the products of nuclear fission and their effects on the environment. Primary emphasis is on safety in reactor design, construction, and operation; however, the safety aspects of the entire fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, spent-fuel processing, nuclear waste disposal, handling of radioisotopes, and environmental effects of these operations, are also treated. Table of Contents for this issue follows. THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT: 1 Chernobyl Accident Management Actions, A. R Sich; GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: 25 The IAEA-ASSET Approach to Avoiding Accidents is to Recognize the Precursors to Prevent Incidents, F. Reisch; ACCIDENT ANALYSIS: 36 A Review of the Available Information on the Triggering Stage of a Steam Explosion, D. F. Fletcher; 58 Analysis and Modeling of Flow-Blockage-Induced Steam Explosion Events in the High-Flux Isotope Reactor, R. P. Taleyarkhan, V. Georgevich, C. W. Nestor, U. Gat, B. L. Lepard, D. H. Cook, J. Freels, S. J. Chang, C. Luttrell, R. C. Gwaltney, and J. Kirkpatrick; 74 An Analysis of Disassembling the Radial Reflector of a Thermionic Space Nuclear Reactor Power System, M. S. El-Genk and D. V. Paramonov; CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION: 86 Standards for High-Integrity Software, D. R. Wallace, D. R. Kuhn, L M. Ippolito, and L. Beltracchi; DESIGN FEATURES: 98 Adoption of New Design Features for the Next Generation Nuclear Power Reactors, L. S. Tong; 114 Review of Nuclear Piping Seismic Design Requirements, G. C. Slagis and S. E. Moore; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: 128 PC-Based Probabilistic Safety Assessment Study for a Geological Waste Repository Placed in a Bedded Salt Formation, S. A. Khan; OPERATING EXPERIENCES: 142 Managing Aging in Nuclear Power Plants: Insights from NRC’s Maintenance Team Inspection Reports, A. Fresco and M. Subudhi; 150 Reactor Shutdown Experience, Compiled by J. W. Cletcher; 153 Selected Safety-Related Events, Compiled by G. A. Murphy; RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: 158 Reports, Standards, and Safety Guides, D. S. Queener; 168 Proposed Rule Changes as of Dec. 31, 1993; ANNOUNCEMENTS: 177 Symposium on Radioactive and Mixed Waste—Risk as a Basis for Waste Classification; 177 1995 Incineration Conference 178 Ninth Power Plant Dynamics Control and Testing Symposium; 174 The Authors

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

How Distributed Energy Resources Can Support Resilience in Utility Distribution Networks

The goal of this webinar is to engage with electric utilities in the Midwest, particularly small public utilities, to understand the industry's needs for science tools to plan for winter resilience in the future, designing tools that will benefit electric power resilience in all communities. Michigan Tech leads this project with partners from multiple academic, government, and industry groups and asked NLR to present on DERs and laboratory tools and resources.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Development of an Amine Oxide Polyzwitterion Brush Martini Model with Polarizable Water and Ions

Abstract In order to accurately simulate the fouling process of proteins onto polyzwitterion brushes, models that accurately capture the hydration properties and chain conformations of such brushes must first be established. We developed a Martini coarse-grained (CG) model for amine oxide polyzwitterion (PNOMA) brushes, a promising class of antifouling materials, in polarizable water and ions by fitting to all-atom bond and angle distributions, monomer hydration free energy, monomer–monomer distance potential of mean force (PMF), and monomer–salt radial distribution functions (RDFs). Martini 2.2P was selected for compatibility with the established polarizable water and ion models. For comparison with PNOMA, we also constructed models for conventional sulfobetaine (PSBMA) and phosphorylcholine (PMPC) polyzwitterions and the polycation PMETAC using established nonbonded bead types from the literature and refitting bond and angle potentials. We simulated each polymer brush chemistry for varying grafting density and chain length, validating brush height scaling relations against experimental data. The CG models captured the relative hydration strengths among different polyzwitterion chemistries, and brush heights extrapolated to higher molecular weights are in agreement with experimental ellipsometry data. We find that chain swelling of the superhydrophilic PNOMA brushes lies between that of the traditional polyzwitterions PSBMA/PMPC and the polycation PMETAC. For PNOMA brushes in NaCl solution, simulated brush height decreases with salt concentration due to the selectively strong interactions between amine oxide and sodium ions.

Walker, Christopher C. [Oak Ridge National Laborat↗
DOE OSTI2025

High-voltage water-scarce hydrogel electrolytes enable mechanically safe stretchable Li-ion batteries

Soft Li-ion batteries, based on conventional organic electrolytes, face performance degradation challenges due to moisture penetration and safety concerns due to possible leakage of toxic fluorine compounds and flammable solvents under mechanical damage. We design a water-scarce hydrogel electrolyte with fluorine-free lithium salt to achieve wide electrochemical stability window (up to 3.11 volts) in ambient air without hermetic packaging while balancing high stretchability (1348%), ion conductivity (41 millisiemens per centimeter), and self-healing capabilities for mechanically and chemically safe stretchable Li-ion batteries. Molecular synergy between hydrophilicity and lithiophilicity of zwitterionic polymer backbone is revealed by molecular dynamics simulations. The battery exhibits capacity retention under harsh mechanical stresses—enduring stretching, twisting, folding, and multiple through-punctures by a needle—while self-healing from repeated through cuts by a razor blade. Stable ambient operation for 1 month over 500 charge-discharge cycles (average coulomb efficiency, 95%) is achieved. A prototype self-healing electronic system with embedded soft batteries demonstrates practical application as a durable embodied energy source.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI1993

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 34, No. 1, January-March 1993]

Nuclear Safety is a review journal that covers significant developments in the field of nuclear safety. Its scope includes the analysis and control of hazards associated with nuclear energy, operations involving fissionable materials, and the products of nuclear fission and their effects on the environment. Primary emphasis is on safety in reactor design, construction, and operation; however, the safety aspects of the entire fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, spent-fuel processing, nuclear waste disposal, handling of radioisotopes, and environmental effects of these operations, are also treated. Table of Contents for this issue follows. GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: 1 An Integrated Regional Approach To Risk Management of Industrial Systems, S. Chakraborty and R. Stratton; 9 Annual Technical Meeting of the NRC Cooperative Severe Accident Research Program, E. G. Silver; ACCIDENT ANALYSIS: 13 Deterministic Severe Accident Criteria as Severe Accident Design Criteria and Policy for the New Production Reactor-Heavy Water Reactor, P. T. Rhoads; 20 Proposed Deterministic Severe Accident Criteria for the Heavy Water Reactor-New Production Reactor Containment, K. D. Bergeron, S. E. Slezak, and C. E. Leach; 33 Quasi-Static Core Liquid Level Depression and Long-Term Core Uncovery During a PWR LOCA, Y. Kukita, R. R. Schultz, H. Nakamura, and J. Katayama; 49 LIRA: An Advanced Containment System to Minimize the Accidental Radioactivity Releases, A. Turricchia; 63 Errata to “A Review of Hydrogen Production During Melt/Water Interaction in LWRs,” Vol. 33, No. 4; CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION: 64 The Nuplex 80+™ Advanced Control Complex from ABB Combustion Engineering, F. Ridolfo, D. Harmon, and K. Scarola; DESIGN FEATURES: 76 A Scheme for Passive Isolation of the Containment of a Reactor, A. K. Ghosh, V. V. Raj, and K. Kakodkar; 84 Utility Requirements for Safety in the Passive Advanced Light-Water Reactor, T. U. Marston, W. H. Layman, and G. Bockhold, Jr.; WASTE AND SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT: 91 Activities Related to Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Compiled by M. D. Muhlheim and E. G. Silver; OPERATING EXPERIENCES: 103 Testing Deficiencies in Auxiliary Systems Feedwater Systems, J. D. Kueck; 110 Reactor Shutdown Experience, Compiled by J. W. Cletcher; 113 Selected Safety-Related Events, Compiled by G. A. Murphy; 115 Operating U.S. Power Reactors, Compiled by M. D. Muhlheim and E. G. Silver; RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: 133 General Administrative Activities, Compiled by M. D. Muhlheim and E. G. Silver; 145 Reports, Standards, and Safety Guides, D. S. Queener; 150 Proposed Rule Changes as of Sept. 30, 1992; ANNOUNCEMENTS: 75 Harvard Short Course on Risk: Science, Assessment, and Management; 102 International Conference on Reactor Physics and Reactor Computations; 102 The Fourth International Conference on Nuclear Waste Reprocessing and Waste Management [RECOD ’94]; 132 International Symposium on the Radiological Exposure of the Population of the European Community from Radioactivity in the Mediterranean Sea [MARINA-MED]; 162 International High-Level Radioactive Waste Conference ‘Technology Integration—Above and Below”; 154 The Authors; 158 Indexes to Nuclear Safety, Volume 33.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Electron temperature relations and the direct N, O, Ne, S, and Ar abundances of 49 959 star-forming galaxies in DESI data release 2

We present the largest direct-method abundance catalogue of galaxies to date, containing measurements of 49 959 star-forming galaxies at z<0.96 from DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) data release 2. By directly measuring electron temperatures across multiple ionization zones, we provide constraints on a number of electron temperature relations. Using the temperature measurements, we derive reliable abundances for N, O, Ne, S, and Ar, and measure the evolution of abundances and abundance ratios of as a function of metallicity and other galaxy properties. Our measurements include direct oxygen abundances for 49 507 galaxies, leading to the discovery of the two most metal-poor galaxies in the nearby Universe, with oxygen abundances of 12+log⁡(O/H)=6.77−0.03+0.03 dex (1.2 per cent Z⊙⁠) and 12+log⁡(O/H)=6.81−0.04+0.04 dex (1.3 per cent Z⊙⁠). We identify a rare outlier population of 24 galaxies with high-N/O ratios at low metallicity, reminiscent of galaxy abundances observed in the early Universe. We find the Ne/O ratio is constant at low metallicity but increases gradually at 12+log(O/H)>8.105±0.004 dex. We show that the S/O and Ar/O abundance ratios are strongly correlated, consistent with the expected additional Type Ia enrichment channel for S and Ar. In this work, we present an initial survey of the key properties of the sample, with this data set serving as a foundation for extensive future work on galaxy abundances at low redshift.

Scholte, D. [Edinburgh U., Inst. Astron.] (ORCID:0↗
DOE OSTI2026

Novel PtNi single-atom–nanocluster (SA–NC) ensembles promote Tafel kinetics and ampere-class AEM hydrogen evolution

The development of efficient, durable, and low-PGM electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media is critical for next-generation electrolysis technologies. We report a facile two-step synthesis of highly dispersed PtNi and PtNi-nitride nanoclusters (NCs) (~2.3 nm) with ultralow Pt content (0.5 at.%) anchored on N-doped Vulcan carbon. Structural and compositional characterization via XAS, XPS, HAADF-STEM, HRTEM, and EDS mapping established key structure–activity relationships across varying Pt/Ni ratios and pyrolysis temperatures. The Pt0.5Ni0.5/C-750 catalyst, an ensemble of PtNi M-N-C type single-atom (SA) moieties with neighboring PtNi nanoclusters (NC), exhibited superior HER performance in alkaline media, achieving overpotentials of 30, 115, and 210 mV at 10, 100, and 500 mA cm−2, respectively. Despite at a lower Pt content, this novel SA–NC ensemble outperformed commercial Pt/C by ~36%. A standardized literature comparison with contemporary Pt- and Ru-doped analogues reveals the as-prepared Pt0.5Ni0.5/C-750 to sit at the apex of Tafel-limited kinetics and low overpotential at 100 mA cm−2. Tafel-limited Tafel slopes in both alkaline and acidic regimes confirm favorable proton recombination kinetics. Mass activities at 200 mV reached 13.8 and 18.84 A mgPt−1 in alkaline and acidic media, respectively. However, excessive nitridation (e.g., at 650 °C) adversely altered Pt electronic structure and HER kinetics. While Ni enhanced alkaline HER, acidic HER favored Ni-free analogues. Pt0.5Ni0.5/C-750 also demonstrated robust temperature responsiveness and 300-h operational stability at high current densities (0.5–1.0 A cm−2) in MEA tests. This work presents a scalable strategy for designing thermally responsive, durable, and compositionally tunable NC catalysts with neighboring SA moieties for alkaline electrolysis.

AEMWE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Reliability Assessment of Solid-State Circuit Breakers (CRADA CRD-21-21469, Project 4 Final Report)

Growth in power requirements and the complexity of emerging distribution systems are creating the need for new solid-state products for many applications. The qualification requirements, testing standards and life-cycle management practices of solid-state devices used in protection applications is not established. The project will leverage newly developed accelerated testing capabilities design specifically for protection applications to generate large data sets that will enable advanced digital techniques for data analysis and embedded health monitoring.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Efficient electrocatalytic valorization of chlorinated organic water pollutant to ethylene

Electrochemistry can provide an efficient and sustainable way to treat environmental waters polluted by chlorinated organic compounds. However, the electrochemical valorization of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) is currently challenged by the lack of a catalyst that can selectively convert DCA in aqueous solutions into ethylene. Here, in this work, we report a catalyst comprising cobalt phthalocyanine molecules assembled on multiwalled carbon nanotubes that can electrochemically decompose aqueous DCA with high current and energy efficiencies. Ethylene is produced at high rates with unprecedented ~100% Faradaic efficiency across wide electrode potential and reactant concentration ranges. Kinetic studies and density functional theory calculations reveal that the rate-determining step is the first C–Cl bond breaking, which does not involve protons—a key mechanistic feature that enables cobalt phthalocyanine/carbon nanotube to efficiently catalyse DCA dechlorination and suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction. The nanotubular structure of the catalyst enables us to shape it into a flow-through electrified membrane, which we have used to demonstrate >95% DCA removal from simulated water samples with environmentally relevant DCA and electrolyte concentrations.

Choi, Chungseok [Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dynamic Oscillation and Motion of Oil‐in‐Water Emulsion Droplets

The interplay of interfacial tensions on droplets results in a range of self‐powered motions that mimic those of living systems and serve as a tunable model to understand their complex non‐equilibrium behavior. Spontaneous shape deformations and oscillations are crucial features observed in nature but difficult to incorporate in synthetic artificial systems. Here, we report sessile oil‐in‐water emulsions that exhibit rapid oscillating behavior. The oscillations depend on the nature and concentration of the surfactant, the chemical composition of the oil, and the wettability of the solid substrate. The rapid changes in the contact angle per oscillation are observed using side‐view optical microscopy. We propose that the changes in the interfacial tension of the oil droplets is due to the partitioning of the surfactant into the oil phase and the movement of self‐emulsified oil out of the parent droplets giving rise to the rhythmic variation in droplet contact‐line. The ability to control and understand droplet oscillation can help model similar oscillations in out‐of‐equilibrium systems in nature and reproduce biomimetic behavior in artificial systems for various applications, such as microfluidic lab‐on‐a‐chip and adaptive materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flame retardant biogenic building insulation materials from hemp fiber

Biogenic thermal insulation materials are in high demand because of its carbon-sequestration nature. However, high flammability, moisture condensation, and relatively high thermal conductivity of biogenic material are major concerns for sustainable building applications. In this study, we report the fire-retardant cellulose xerogel insulation nanocomposites derived from hemp fiber recycling and silica xerogel, in which the boric acid treatment improves its fire retardancy. The as-prepared materials show a low thermal conductivity of 31.3 mW/m K, high flexural modulus of 665 MPa, hydrophobicity with the water contact angle of 115°, and fire retardancy with 30% weight loss over a period of burning time 10 min. Overall, this work provides an effective method for the synthesis of fire-retardant biogenic thermal insulation materials and shows a promising way for next-generation bio-based insulation materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reconfigurable Cascaded Thermal Neuristors for Neuromorphic Computing

While the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology is the mainstream for the hardware implementation of neural networks, an alternative route is explored based on a new class of spiking oscillators called “thermal neuristors”, which operate and interact solely via thermal processes. Utilizing the insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) in vanadium dioxide, a wide variety of reconfigurable electrical dynamics mirroring biological neurons is demonstrated. Notably, inhibitory functionality is achieved just in a single oxide device, and cascaded information flow is realized exclusively through thermal interactions. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the neuristors, a detailed theoretical model is developed, which accurately reflects the experimental results. In conclusion, this study establishes the foundation for scalable and energy-efficient thermal neural networks, fostering progress in brain-inspired computing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Probing the fatigue enhancement in a thermally aged cast duplex stainless steel by in situ neutron diffraction

After long-term thermal aging at 400 °C for 3000 h and 10,000 h, a cast duplex stainless steel exhibits promoted fatigue performance, including enhanced three-stage cyclic hardening and prolonged fatigue life. Utilizing in situ neutron diffraction, the phase-specific stresses are resolved, and their evolutions over entire fatigue cycling reveal the underlying mechanisms of the fatigue enhancement. It is found that the ferrite phase bears a much higher stress than the austenite matrix under both as-received and aged conditions. The enhanced cyclic hardening in Stage I is attributed to the strengthening of both phases due to thermal aging, while the enhancement in Stage III results from the martensitic transformation induced strengthening. The fatigue life is prolonged thanks to the cyclic hardening and the delay of martensitic transformation in the austenite phase after thermal aging.

Yu, Dunji [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000189467851)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Activation dynamics of a water-soluble human mu-opioid receptor

The mu-opioid receptor (MOR), a class A G protein-coupled receptor mediates opioid analgesia and remains a central target for pain therapeutics. While crystal structures of MOR exist, they provide limited insight into the receptor’s dynamic conformational landscape underlying function. Here, we engineered a thermostable water-soluble MOR variant (wsMOR) that retains native-like ligand-binding and activation dynamics. This variant enables high-yield production and detailed solution-phase structural studies that are challenging with membrane-embedded MOR, providing a valuable tool for studying receptor activation and aqueous-phase drug screening. Using a combined computational and experimental approach, we performed long-timescale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations together with neutron scattering and single-molecule FRET, revealing a structurally stable receptor with a diverse ensemble of conformations at different temporal resolutions. In the ligand-free state, wsMOR displayed high conformational flexibility, which decreased upon agonist binding, particularly in transmembrane helix 6, a hallmark of G protein-coupled receptor activation. Positive allosteric modulation and G protein binding further stabilized active-like states. These findings highlight wsMOR’s conformational plasticity across picosecond to millisecond timescales and provide a foundation for structure-guided development of next-generation opioid ligands with improved efficacy and safety.

E, Agyemang [University of Tennessee Knoxville]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Autonomous phototaxis of hydrogel swimmers

The design of synthetic soft matter capable of emulating the complex behaviors of living organisms, such as sensing and adapting to their environment, remains an important challenge in developing biomimetic materials. Functionalized hydrogels are ideal candidates for such materials since they are highly responsive to their environment and can be operated in water. In this work, we investigate a hybrid bonding hydrogel composed of peptide amphiphile supramolecular nanofibers covalently attached to a photoresponsive network, in which high-aspect-ratio ferromagnetic nanowires are aligned along the length of the sample, designed to swim under oscillating magnetic fields. This hybrid hydrogel swimmer can autonomously swim toward a light source by utilizing photoinduced interactions between supramolecular and covalent networks reminiscent of phototactic swimming in living systems. Using a combination of experimental techniques and a continuum model incorporating photochemistry, magnetoelasticity, and hydrodynamics, we explain the swimming mechanism and predict phototactic behavior. Our work highlights the potential role of hybrid bonding polymers, which leverage the interplay between supramolecular assemblies and covalent networks. We demonstrate how these polymers can be tailored to react dynamically to their environment, paving the way for developing intelligent and autonomous robotic systems.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗